Small pitch electrical connector having narrowed portion

Abstract

An electrical connector for mating with a complementary component includes an insulative housing having a receptacle for receiving a portion of the complementary component and a plurality of terminal receiving cavities for receiving terminals therein. A plurality of generally planar conductive terminals are stamped from sheet metal material of a predetermined thickness, with each terminal having a predetermined thickness generally equal to the thickness of the sheet metal material from which it is stamped. Each of the terminals is mounted in one of the cavities. The terminals include a generally rigid base having a base width parallel to the plane of the terminal, a solder tail extending from the base, a retention section for securing the terminal within the housing and an L-shaped contact portion extending from the base. The L-shaped contact portion include first and second legs connected at a juncture portion. The first leg has a first width parallel to the plane of the terminal and includes a contact portion for contacting a conductive portion of said the complementary component. The second leg extends from said base and the juncture portion has a juncture width parallel to the plane of the terminal. The base width and the first width being greater than the thickness of the terminal and the juncture width being less than the thickness of the terminal.

I claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector for mating with a complementary component, said connector comprising: an insulative housing having a receptacle for receiving a portion of said complementary component and a plurality of terminal receiving cavities for receiving terminals therein,   a plurality of generally planar conductive terminals stamped from sheet metal material of a predetermined thickness, each terminal having a predetermined thickness generally equal to the thickness of the sheet metal material from which it is stamped and being mounted in one of said cavities, the terminal including a generally rigid base having a base width parallel to the plane of said terminal, a solder tail extending from said base, a retention section for securing the terminal within said housing and an L-shaped contact portion extending from said base, said L-shaped contact portion including first and second legs connected at a juncture portion, said first leg having a first width parallel to the plane of said terminal and including a contact portion for contacting a conductive portion of said complementary component, said second leg extending from said base, said juncture portion having a juncture width parallel to the plane of said terminal, said base width and said first width being greater than said thickness of said terminal and said juncture width being less than said thickness of said terminal.   
     
     
       2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said housing is elongated includes a pair of component receiving slots extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said housing and a plurality of terminal receiving cavities with terminals therein adjacent each slot, said contact portions of said terminals projecting into said slots. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said retention section comprises a generally rigid retention arm extending from said base and said contact portion projects toward the retention arm. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein sides of the contact arm at said contact portion being stepped so that the thickness of the contact portion is less than said predetermined thickness of the terminal. 
     
     
       5. An electrical terminal for mounting in a circuit board mounted electrical connector requiring a fine pitch, the terminal being adapted for contacting one of a plurality of closely spaced terminals of a complementary mating terminal, the electrical terminal being generally U-shaped and comprising: a generally rigid retention arm and a flexible contact arm joined to the retention arm by a generally rigid base, the contact arm having a given thickness in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the U-shaped terminal and a contact portion projecting toward the retention arm for engaging said one terminal, sides of the contact arm at said projecting contact portion being stepped so that the thickness of the contact portion is less than said given thickness of the contact arm. 
     
     
       6. The electrical terminal of claim 5 wherein said contact arm has a width in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the U-shaped terminal that is greater than said given thickness of the contact arm. 
     
     
       7. The electrical terminal of claim 6 wherein said base has a width in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the U-shaped terminal that is greater than said given thickness of the contact arm. 
     
     
       8. The electrical terminal of claim 7 wherein said contact arm is joined to the base at a juncture which has a width in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the U-shaped terminal that is less than said given thickness of the contact arm. 
     
     
       9. The electrical terminal of claim 8 wherein said terminal is stamped from sheet metal material to define sides and edges, with the projecting contact portion of the contact arm being at an edge of the stamped sheet metal material. 
     
     
       10. A conductive terminal for mounting in an electrical connector housing, said terminal comprising: a generally planar structure stamped from sheet metal material of a predetermined thickness and having a predetermined thickness generally equal to the thickness of the sheet metal material from which it is stamped, a generally rigid base having a base width parallel to the plane of said terminal, a solder tail extending from said base, a retention section for securing the terminal within said housing and an L-shaped contact portion extending from said base, said L-shaped contact portion including first and second legs connected at a juncture portion, said first leg having a first width parallel to the plane of said terminal and including a contact portion for contacting a conductive portion of a complementary mating component, said second leg extending from said base, said juncture portion having a juncture width parallel to the plane of said terminal, said base width and said first width being greater than said thickness of said terminal and said juncture width being less than said thickness of said terminal and sides of the contact arm at said contact portion being stepped so that the thickness of the contact portion is less than said predetermined thickness of the terminal.   
     
     
       11. The electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said retention section comprises a generally rigid retention arm extending from said base and said contact portion projects toward the retention arm.